Universal game board



W. H. STAKER El AL UNIVERSAL GAME BOARD Flled May 18. 1923 .lr-5v@ lf3 sTRiKEs 5 La/62W S:

July 20 1926D July 20 1926.

' 1,593,146 W. H. STAKER ET AL UNIVERSAL GAME BOARD F'fd Muy 18, i925 2 She@t,s 5heet g3 my wud/boya Q* Patented .luly 2li,

PATENT GFFECE.

WILLIAM H. STAKER AND NATHAN I. STAKER, F SANDY, UTAH.

UNIVERSAL GAME EGARD.

Application filed May 18, 1323.

This invention relates to a game board and has for its principal object the provision of a board suitable for the playing of a great number of games although intended primarily for the playing of a game simulating base ball.

Further and important objects of the present invention lic in Vthe provision of various details simplifying the game board and rendering more convenient the playing of various games, such details being` particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the present preferred type of board embodying our invention:

Figure 1 is a general plan view of a game board. i

Fig. 2 is a vertical7 longitudinal section taken through one of the alleys.

Fig. 3 is a central, transverse, vertical section on line 3 3 of Figure 2 with the parts in operative playing position.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a projector which may be used with my device.

The box portion yof the game board consists generally of abase 10, a rear end 11 and sides 12 and 14.together forming an open top box with a free or unobstructed front end. In the box thus formed two lonoitudinal partitions 15 and 16 are provided c ividing the base into three sections, a fairly large major section 18 for the field portion and two equal size porti-ons on either `side thereof forming alleys 19 and 20. In order to form a convenient receptacle 21 for the various pieces and accessories a transverse partition 22 closes off the rear 4of the field portion forming a receptacle provided with a cover 23 andv a spring catch 24.

The alleys 19 and 2O are exactly similar so a single description will sufiice and the numerals apply equally well to the parts of each alley. `Each alley consists of a runway and a chute 31, the runway conveying the marble or other sphere 33, preferably simulating a base ball, to` the pocket end of the runway where the marble drops through an opening 32 and falls to the chute returning to the player by gravity as best seen in Fig. 2. The pockets are convenient-ly formed by a plurality of partitions 34 here shownv as five in number so that siX pocket openings will be formed. The top 35 of the pockets on its forward face bears numerals shown in Fig.v 3 denoting the number of the pocket opening.

Serial No.. 639,834.

The chute 31 is hinged to the rear end 1l of the board as at 36 and when used with adjustable legs hereinafter described the lower end 37 of the chute will rest on the table top 38 or other support upon which the gaine board is positioned. rlhe chute is formed in any preferred manner with grooves corresponding in number to thel number of pocket openings and at the lower end of the chute numerals are placed corresponding inv position and purpose with the numerals on the face of the top 35 so that should there be any question as to which pocket opening the ball initially entered the question may be definitely settled as the chute at its upper end lies so close to the runway that the marble cannot possibly get into the wrong groove or passageway.

It should be noted that the chute 31 serves a double function for it notonly returns the ball to the player but acts as a register or recording device. The player is confronted with numerals 1 to 6 painted above six pockets, collectively serving as a target at the far end of the smooth alleyway 30, down which the player aims the ball at whichever one of the siX pockets is fancied. The numerals 1 to 6 are best seen in Figure 3, and the smooth alley down which the ball is aimed is best shown in Figure 2. The number of the pocket which the ball entered is accurately recorded or registered as the return apparatus 31 is not narrow or smooth, but has six grooves each being a separate and distinct return runway serving eX- clusively its corresponding pocket. Numerals 1 to 6 are painted at the lower end 37 of the chute and can be actually seen at 40 in Figure 1` of the drawings.

On the fiel-d 18 is a base ball diamond 42 and with `or without markings 43 denoting the positions of the players in the field but with markings 44 showing the possible positions of the players of the side at bat. Between the field and the player we preferably position a number vof counting devices representing respectively the number of innings, 47 the score, 48; strikes, 49; balls, 50; and outs, 51; here shown as of the abacus type, each of the abacus balls, which may also be made to represent baseballs, representing one except for they balls on the lower end of the counter 48 each of which represents five as the score may, as in the game itself, run above 10. l

A. sign board G() is pivoted to the partitions 15 and 16 as at 6l so that the sign board may be lowered flat against the base l() when the game board is not in use and may be raised 'to 90 when the board is in position. A preferable way of holding the sign board in place is by the provision of a spring lock 63 of any of the well-known types.

A card 65 is secured to the sign board by spring clips such as 66 and denotes the various possible plays with each game. `Each of the cards`65 is peculiar vto the particular game being played, several such cards being furnished with the game board, the card for base ball, for example, containing six columns corresponding to the sin pocket openings in each alley and denoting balls, strikes, hits, fouls, and all other information necessary to play the game in a manner very closely imitating the actual happenings of a 'regularly-played game.

The board should be positioned for play in an inclined position with the edge vof the board .nearest the player elevated above the pockets and the pockets Lin turn must be elevated above the ends 37 of the runways. This may be conveniently done by a pair of legs 68 and a pair of somewhat shorter legs 69 all four of which `may be straight pegs but at least two 'are preferably Vadjustable Screw legs such as -are'in rather common use with toy billiard tables, the legs being short ened or extended by a turn of a knurled nut 70 in the ordinary fashion. While not al Vall essential this improvement is extremely convenient as the .greatest enjoyment may be had from .the game when the board is eX a'ctly level from side to side, particularly s'o if the marbles are to be placed on the edge of the runway and allowed to roll down the alley by `gravity alone.

If desired the two front legs '68 may be omitted and in their stead a pair of toggle .links 72 substituted, these links folding flush 'with the .base when the device is not in use and operating to support the base from the lower edge 37 of the chute when the toggle is spr-ung slightly beyond its central position where it engages the toggle stop as is quite customary. y The method of shooting the marble dowA the alley may be determined at the will of the players; the ball can be placed upon the edge of the runway allowed to roll slowly by gravity or the ball may be shot from-the abacus end of the board in marbleshooting fashion or we may place a marble shooter or projector such as 76 on the edge of the board with its pivot directly in the center of the alley and with itshandle 77 extended beyond the edge of the board for convenience in manipulating it. The projectors illustrated are of well known type save for the pivot which is a small stud 79 secured t0 the propeller and fitting in a socket S0 in the board so they can be removed and placed in the receptacle 2l when not in usc. rlhe head 8l of the propeller is urged forwardly by a spring S2 surrounding the rod 83 and bearing against the rear edge Si of the propeller. The marble 33 is placed in the channel of the projector, the handle 7T pulled back against the tension of the spring and the device turned on its pivot 79 to aim at the pocket opening desired and the ball then discharged by releasing the handle.

The central baseball field is for pictorial or visualizing purposes largely. The ball players, which are not shown in the drawing, need not be miniature human figures, but can just as well be represented 'by checkers or simple disks, are moved about on the board so as to show at any moment the status of the game. All of the marble shooting is done on the two side alleys and the vertical sign board 6() is used to show the moves of the game to which the player is entitled, due to his skill or lack thereof in shooting the marble into one of thesix pockets that has been assigned valuable moves. The central eld is also of use structurally as a spacer so that the two side alleys will be suliiciently far apart to enable the two contesting players to use their alleys simultancourly.

In order to specify some particular use of the device we will describe the invention in connection with the game for which the device is primarily intended, namely baseball. ln playing this game the checkers, pieces, or men, which preferably are small lead figures dressed in baseball costume are of two distinguishing colors representing the opposing teams. Since only four men can over be on the bases at once there is no need to provide more than this number alt-ho the full nine men on each side may be provided and placed in the field in their accustomed positions. All of the scoring balls or markers are assembled at the right as is customary in billiards and other counting games. The player having his team in the lield shoots first. le will assume that he is on the left hand side of the board and the player whose team is `at bat is on the right hand side. rl"he latter player movesv the first ball or marker el? to the right showing .that he is playing in the first inning. its the board is actually,manufactured at the present time, the balls are colored: .yellow for theballs a? representing the innings, green for the upper balls 5l representing the `number of men out, red for the score balls in the upper tier representing live each 'and blue for the balls in the lower tier d'8 representing one run each. Y

lWhile the specific method of counting can be va 1ied to suit it is convenient and much more exciting to design the score card so the play will simulate the actual game as Cil closely as possible. To accomplish this the card is so made that the first player, i. e., the player whose team is in the field, discharges the marble down the left hand chute and strives to get it in the number 3 opening for that will mean a strike. The danger is that if it swerves slightly it will go into 2 or 4 which will mean the baseball is hit. We will assume that in shooting for number 3 he actually shoots it into number 2 or number 4 each of which indicate that {.)he batter has actually connected with the `all.

The other player instantly upon seeing the marble go into the number 2 or 4 pocket may, without waiting 'for verification by the marble running down the inclined chute 3l, discharge his marble down the right hand chute 30 in an endeavor to make the hit just registered as greatl as possible. He too aims for the number 3 slot for that indicates a home run after a hit. There is a danger' here, too, for if he should miss the number 3 hole slightly he would get a foul (by going into number 2 or 4) and then on next- Qshot down the left hand alley the player in the iield might catch the foul and even if he did not it would be a strike in accorda-nce with the rules of the actual game. We will assume that the player at bat misses the number 3 which counts as a home run and runs in the number 6 opening which gives him a single. This would complete the play since the securing of a single would naturally mean that the runner was safe at iirst base, and accordingly the player places one of his pieces at Iirst base numbered 44 on the drawing. Players usually advance the piece slightly also to simulate the game showing that the runner is taking a lead off first base.

The player whose team is in the field now shoots again. There are but three things lie can get from the six alleys, namely; a ball, a strike, or the fact that the batter has connected with the ball. We have described rather in detail what happens when the batter hits the ball. Should the player roll into an opening which signilies a ball, the player representing the team at bat would do nothing and this is likewise true of a strike, but on our balls or on three strikes an advance or an out is recorded.

To simplify the game as much as possible certain plays are omitted such for eX- ample as the dropping of the third strike by the catcher. The omitted plays are those occurring very rarely. In the actual game, even tho the catcher should drop the third strike, the runner is almost invariably preceded to irst base by the ball and is out.

The charts for the different games are printed on substantial paper or cardboard and are held in position by the clips 66. The principal chart is indicated in Figure 3 but since it is rather complicated it is not reproduced in full. The six vertical columns represent the six openings into which the marble may go and the horizontal columns represent what the play is if the marble goes into that slot under the following conditions: single, two-base, three-base, home run, attempt to steal. The six vertical columns are actually each divided into tour narrow vertical columns denoting what happens to-the man at bat, the man on iirst, the man on second, and the man on third and the horizontal columns are themselves divided into quite a number of contingencies, for example; bases empty, first occupied, second occupied, third occupied, iirst and second, rst and third, second and third, and bases ull. These reiinements are advantageous for the very close simulation or the actual game as for example, it would never do at all to have a triple play recorded when the iirst man came to bat.

YWhat we claim is l. A game board employing pieces or men having a central iield or game visualizing space ior occupancy in various positions by men, and an independent scoring device on each side of said iield, whereby the lield may ybe used simultaneously by two rival players each scoring independently.

2. In a game board having two parallel 'sides and two spaced members dividing the board into a iield and two runways, a plurality of pockets at the end of each runway, and a return passageway beneath each pocket.

3. Tn a game board, a base, an end, two parallel sides, two spaced members dividing the board into a field and two runways, a

plurality of partitions at the end of each runway, and a return chute beneath each runway, each oit' said chutes being divided 4into a plurality of parallel passageways corgresponding in number to the spaces formed by said partitions.

4. In a game board, a base, an end, two parallel sides, two spaced members dividing the board into a iield and two runways, a plurality or' partitions at the end ott' each runway, and a return chute pivoted to said base beneath each runway.

5. In a game board, a base, a target end, two parallel sides, two spaced members dividing the board into a iield and two runways, a plurality of partitions at the target. end of eac-h runway, and a return chute pivoted to said base at the target end thereof and beneath each runway, each of said chutes being divided into a plurality or' parallel passageways corresponding in number to the spaces formed by said partitions.

6. In a game board, a base, a target end, a player end, two parallel sides, two spaced members dividing the board into a field and two runways, a plurality of partitions at the target 'end 01' eaeh runway, a return :Chute pivoted at Vthe 'target end to said base 'beneath each runway and means 'for vpositioning the base on a table or other object with the target end below the player end andthe player end of the Chute below the pivoted end whereby a marble released on either rul'lway will roll by gravity in the space between two adjacent partitions and "ill then return vby gravity to the player end via one of the chute passageways.

7. ln a gaine board, a base, a rtarget end, a player end, two parallel sides, two spaced members dividing the board into a field and two runways, a plurality of partitions in eaeh runway at the target end, a return Achute pivoted at the target end to said base beneath each runway, and adjustable means v"for posi lening the base on a table or other object with the partitioned ends below the level ot' the player end and the player end of the chute engaging;` the table, whereby a marble released `on Veither runway will pass between a spaced inemberand aparallel side and 'enter between two adjacent partitions and will then return by gravity tothe player via one of the chute passageways.

3. il gaine board haring a central lield or 'score board space tor the men, a return ball playingr,r alley on -eaeh side of said `field, open score pockets formed atthe end ot each 9. ln a marble shooting alley, a smooth unrestricted runway, a target at the rear and lower end of `the runway, Vertical partitions dividing` the target into a plurality of pockets, and an independent return for each pocket.

lO. 'ln a marble shooting-game, a plurality of spaced alleys, each having a smooth unrestricted runway, a Ytarget at the rear and lower end of the runway, vertical partitions dividing the target into a plurality of ,poehets, and an independent return for each poclet, for indicating the pocket into which the marble was discharged, whereby a plurality oi players may cshooti their marbles simultaneously and later ascertain what score a rival player has made.

ll. The device of claim l0 in which there are two alleys and a ybaseball field is positioned between the two alleys so as to be risible to both players.

12. ln 'a baseball game, a baseball field, a scoring device at each side o1 the ield arranged .parallel andl facing in the saine direction and means visible to both players for indicating the value ol the mark scored.

VILLAM H. STAKER. NATHAN l. STAKER. 

